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Pedroia's heads-up play nets two stolen bases

Second baseman takes advantage of infield shift, setting up Sox run

8/9/14: Dustin Pedroia steals second and upon seeing third base unmanned, makes a mad dash to steal that base as well

By Quinn Roberts
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MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- Throughout his nine-year Major League career, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia has always been known for his heart and hustle.

That was never more evident than during the 14th inning of Saturday night's game against the Angels.

After leading off the inning with a single, Pedroia stole second base with David Ortiz at the plate. Pedroia immediately popped up after being called safe, realizing that with the Angels' infield in a shift toward right field because Ortiz was up, no one was covering third base.

"I knew it was a possibility," Pedroia said of the play. "Either the catcher or the pitcher head over [to third]. I popped up and peaked over and no one was there. I took a chance."

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said pitcher Cory Rasmus was supposed to be covering third base.

"We knew about it," Scioscia said. "They were prepped. Unfortunately, when stuff happens, you don't react like maybe you should on the field, and it's a heads-up play from Dustin Pedroia."

With Pedroia able to get to third base with less than two outs, a fly ball to left field off the bat of Ortiz plated Pedroia to give Boston a 4-3 lead.

"Any time the opposition is in an overshift, that is a possibility. It was a great heads-up play on his part," said Red Sox manager John Farrell.

Pedroia joined the Pirates' Josh Harrison as the only other player this year to steal two bases on the same play.

Quinn Roberts is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.